Object Lessons — The Paris Review

Object Lessons: Twenty Contemporary Masters Share Their Favorite Stories from The Paris Review

Object Lessons is an indispensable resource for writers, students, and anyone who wants to understand the art of the short story. In this anthology, the first of its kind, twenty contemporary masters of the genre share their favorite stories from the pages of The Paris Review and offer insights into what makes them great.

Over the last half century, The Paris Review has launched hundreds of careers while publishing some of the most inventive and best-loved stories of our time. From classics to new discoveries, this collection showcases the breadth and vitality of the short story form.

Contributors include Daniel Alarcón, Donald Barthelme, Ann Beattie, David Bezmozgis, Jorge Luis Borges, Jane Bowles, Ethan Canin, Raymond Carver, Evan S. Connell, Bernard Cooper, Guy Davenport, Lydia Davis, Dave Eggers, Jeffrey Eugenides, Mary Gaitskill, Thomas Glynn, Aleksandar Hemon, Amy Hempel, Mary-Beth Hughes, Denis Johnson, Jonathan Lethem, Sam Lipsyte, Ben Marcus, David Means, Leonard Michaels, Steven Millhauser, Lorrie Moore, Craig Nova, Daniel Orozco, Mary Robison, Norman Rush, James Salter, Mona Simpson, Ali Smith, Wells Tower, Dallas Wiebe, and Joy Williams.

Object Lessons is a treasury of great short fiction and an essential tool for anyone seeking to understand the writer's craft. Dive into these masterful stories and discover why The Paris Review has been at the forefront of literary culture for over sixty years.